Thumb, face, and eye guard attachment for rifles



, P 1, 1959 J. T. IVY 2,901,854

THUMB, FACE AND EYE GUARD ATTACHMENT FOR RIFLES Filed June 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JESS/E I. lur

J. T. lVY

Sept. 1, 1959 THUMB, FACE ANDEYE GUARD ATTACHMENT FOR RIFLES Filed June 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JEJSIE I IV) BY aw 55 HTWRNEY United States Patent THUMB, FACE, AND EYE GUARD ATTACHMENT FOR RIFLES Jessie T. Ivy, Seattle, Wash.

Application June 18, 1956, Serial No. 592,156

3 Claims. (Cl. 42-71) This invention relates to firearms, and more particularly to improvements in repeating rifles of those kinds equipped with automatic reloading mechanisms such, for example, as disclosed with the rifle of my co-pending application, filed under Ser. No. 585,761, and which has matured into U.S. Patent No. 2,807,113.

In the ordinary types of bolt action repeating rifles, reloading is manually accomplished by the user of the rifle grasping the bolt actuating hand lever and then by certain movements thereof, unlocking the bolt; drawing it rearwardly and ejecting the empty shell; pushing the bolt forward to reload, and then pulling the bolt lever down to its original position to lock the bolt in breech closing position. In aiming and firing the rifle, the right hand of the user grasps the stock just rearward of the trigger guard; this hold, after firing, being necessarily released to permit grasping the bolt lever for the reloading operation.

In using an automatically reloading rifle, like or of the character of that of my above identified US. Patent No. 2,807,113, issued September 24, 1957, it is not necesthat the hold on the stock by either hand he released after firing, and it is not necessary for the rifle to be lowered from normal sighting position. Retaining this position and hold on the rifle is quite advantageous when several shots are to be fired in quick succession. However, it is quite desirable that the gun users face when placed against the side of or closely along the side of the stock be protected against possible injury by the rearwardly driven bolt in the automatic shell ejection and In view of this, it has been the principal object of the present invention to provide a bolt guideway for use on rifles, particularly those which are automatically reloaded, within which the bolt moves for the reloading operation; this guideway serving primarily to retain the hunters thumb as well as his face out of the line of travel of the bolt, thus to protect him against any possible injury that might result from the automatic action.

More specifically stated, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide certain improvements in bolt action rifles of the automatic reloading types, that make their use easier and safer, primarily by reason of certain novel features of design of the right hand grip portion of the stock and the application of the bolt guideway as a thumb, face and eye guard.

Further objects of the present invention reside in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a rifle embodying the im provements of the present invention therein.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken on 'ice line 3-3 in Fig. 1, showing the cross-sectional shape of the guard.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the guide and guard removed from the stock.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a rifle having a modified form of stock, and equipped with a bolt guideway and eyeguard adapted to that particular form of stock.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the rifle as seen in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on line 77 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the guideway and guard member removed from the stock; a part thereof being broken away for better understanding of its form.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In Fig. 1, I have shown a certain type of bolt action rifle with which the present improvements are designed to be used. This rifle aside from the improvements above noted, conforms substantially in design and in its mechanical features, to the rifle of my previously mentioned United States patent with which the automatic reloading means is applied. In the present showing, the receiver is designated generally by reference numeral 10; the stock by numeral 11 and the barrel by numeral 12; this latter being fixed in the receiver in the usual manner. Also, mounted in the receiver is the breech bolt 15, this being equipped with the usual hand lever 16 whereby it is actuated for shell ejection and reloading. In the present instance, this lever is connected to the rear end of the bolt. When the bolt is locked, the lever as sumes the position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In a reloading operation, the bolt is first unlocked, this being accomplished by swinging the lever 16 upwardly from position of Fig. 1. The bolt is then pulled rearwardly from its forward position for shell extraction and ejection. It is then returned to its forward position to load a fresh cartridge, as received from a clip or magazine, into the barrel. Finally, the bolt is locked ready for firing the rifle by swinging the lever 10 downwardly as to its position in Fig. 1.

It is customary for the rifle user, in sighting and firing, to rest his face against the left hand side of the stock. Without some means of protection, it would be quite pos sible, if the rifle has automatic reloading action, that the riflemans thumb, face or eye could be injured by the rearwardly driven bolt, especially if the gun user gets careless, or excited. It is to insure against such injury that I have provided the present bolt guide and face guard which is herein designated in its entirety by reference numeral 20.

This guide and guard preferably is a one-piece metal or plastic casting made in the form of a trough. It is fixed to the top of the gun stock, immediately rearward of the receiver and in alignment with the receiver and bolt. The underside of this casting, at forward and rearward ends, is formed with seats 2122, shaped to fit the top surface of the stock. The forward end of the trough shaped piece is open in order that the bolt 15, in its opening movement can be received therein as indicated in its dotted lines showing in Fig. 1. At its rear end, the trough is closed by an upstanding and rounded abutment portion designated at 23. In cross-section, the guideway and guard is of the semi-cylindrical shape shown in crosssection in Fig. 3. The base of the trough is formed throughout its length with a longitudinal channel 25 which is designed to receive the bolt guiding lug 25e carried on the underside of the bolt.

Attachment of the guard member 20 to the stock 11 is effected by means of two wood screws 2626 which are passed downwardly through its end portion into the stock as has been shown in Figs. 1 and 2; the heads of the screws being countersunk for clearance of the bolt.

In the use of a rifle of this kind, equipped with an automatic reloading means, which has not been shown in the present drawings because such means forms no part of the present invention, it is desirable that the user maintain a good firm grip on the stock. Such a grip is facilitated by the provision of a thumb receiving passage 28 between the top of the stock and guard 20 for reception of the thumb of the right hand as it grasps the stock. The grip portion of the stock, as provided for the right hand, is designated by numeral 30, and it is to be noted that the passage 28 is formed by cutting away the top portion of the stock to form a recess 31 therein and also forming a valley 32 in the right side of the stock leading upwardly and forwardly into the recess. Additional clearance for receiving the thumb between stock and guard is obtained by slightly upwardly arching the guard member across the recess as at 33.

With the stock so recessed, and the guard 20 so applied thereto, it is possible for the gun user to maintain a firm hold with his right hand by gripping the stock portion 30. He can also, while so gripping the stock, keep his face against the left hand side of the stock, in a natural sighting position, without any danger of injury to face, thumb or eye by reason of the automatic action of the bolt, since his face and thumb will be retained out of the path of travel of the bolt by the guard 20, particularly by its rear end abutment portion 23.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown a similar form of face guard member, designated in its entirety by numeral 20A, as applied to a rifle having a common form of stock, that is, a stock not equipped with the thumb recess. In Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 parts that correspond to those of the rifle of Fig. 1 have been given like reference numerals and will not be further described.

The guide and guard member 20A is like that of Fig. 4 except that it is shaped on its underside to its full length to fit the top of the gun stock 11; the stock not having the recess for the thumb but a rather pronounced pistol grip portion 30x for the right hand.

The advantage in the use of the guide and guard of this invention resides in the fact that the rifle user, in shooting, need not fear injury to face or eye by reason of the fast and powerful automatic action of the bolt, and can concentrate on his aiming and a comfortable placement of his face against the side of the gun stock.

If the stock be equipped with the recess 28 for passing of the thumb, the rifle user can get a more secure hold on the stock, which makes possible a better handling, aiming and shooting operation.

In so far as use of the guides and guards of either Fig. l or Fig. 5 is concerned, they are the same, but it is more practical, in so far as use and handling of the rifle is concerned, if the stock has the thumb recess. When the stock is so recessed, the guard is shaped accordingly, as seen in Fig. 1.

Such guards and guides are also practical for use on hand operated bolts, allowing the rifleman to retain his face against the stock while hurriedly operating the bolt for reloading.

Another advantage resides in the added smoothness of a guided bolt, supported by the guard during its full distance of travel in line with the frame through the mediacy of the lug 25e.

What I claim is:

1. In a rifle having a receiver, a bolt reciprocally contained in said receiver and adapted for actuation from closed position to a position projecting rearwardly therefrom and having a guide lug thereon, a stock fixed to the receiver and having a hand grip portion, and a troughed guard member fixed to said stock, along the top edge thereof in alignment with said bolt, to receive the bolt therein when it is moved from closed to open position; said bolt being formed at its rear end with a projecting lug and said troughed guard being formed in its base, lengthwise of the same, with a channel in which said lug is received as the unlocked bolt is moved rearwardly to guide and give stability to the rear end portion of the bolt.

2. In a rifle having a receiver, a bolt contained therein, for reciprocal action between closed and open positions, and a stock fixed to the receiver and having a hand grip portion adjacent the trigger guard and formed across its top edge, adjacent the rear end of said receiver with a recess for passing the thumb of the hand that grips said hand grip portion in normal firing of the rifle, a troughed guard member fixed on the stock along its top edge portion, across said recess and aligned with said bolt to receive it in the troughed portion thereof when moved to open position; said bolt being formed adjacent its rear end with a projecting lug and said troughed guard being formed in its base, lengthwise thereof, with a channel in which said lug is received as the unlocked bolt is moved rearwardly to guide and give supporting stability thereto.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein a valley is formed in the side of the stock, leading upwardly and forwardly into the recess to seat the heel portion of the thumb that is passed through said recess in the gripping of the stock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 460,533 Harrison Sept. 29, 1891 1,567,993 Gerstenberger Dec. 29, 1925 2,090,656 Williams Aug. 24, 1937 2,481,548 Waltke Sept. 13, 1949 2,669,051 Cline Feb. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,361 Great Britain 1898 1,067,121 France Jan. 27, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES American Rifleman, May 1953, p. 65. 

